Cotton-seed delinter



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. J. FAULKNER. GOT-TON SEED DELINTBR,

N0. 550,2ZZ.

PatentedNo vi 19,- 1895.

fims JFauZ/fner.

atmw

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

J. J. FAULKNER. COTTON SEED DBLINTER.

No. 550,222. Patented Nov. '19, 1895.

anve/wtoz i gimoow If 175177765 JFClLlUff/lt y y W Q I flaw o ANDREW B GRAHAM PHOTO LITHU WASHINGTOMDK UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE.

JAMES J. FAULKNER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD COTTON SEED COMPANY, OF ARKANSAS.

COTTON-SEED DELINTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,222, dated November 19, 1895.

Application filed. September 16, 1895 Serial No. 562,642. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES J. FAULKNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Seed Delin ters and I do hereby declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for treating cotton-seed, and particularl y to improvements in that class thereof known as delinters; and it consists in the improved cotton seed delinter whose construction and arrangement of parts will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

One of the Well-known types of cotton-seed delinters is that which is commonly termed the arm delinterthat is to say, a cottonseed delinter in which the rotating abradingsurfaces consist of a number of arms mounted upon a power-shaft and either formed of abrading material or having sections of abrading material secured thereto. This type of cotton-seed delinters has for a long time been popular; but the development of a prac: tical machine of this type has been retarded by the difficulty of providing the details of which roll has a rate of rotation entirely in-.

dependent of the rate of rotation of the abrading-surfaces. To secure the best results the abrading-surfaces should be formed not only so as to scour the surface of the seed, but also so as to interrupt and vary the formation of the roll of seed, so that new-faces thereof may be continually presented to the abrading action. It isapparent that the greater the number of abrading contacts the seed receives whileunder treatment in the machine the more complete must be the removal of the lint from the surfaces thereof. Only a momentary contact of the seed With the abrading-surfaces is necessary in order to scour from the face presented all the lint which adheres thereto.

In the arm type of cotton-seed delinters, where the abrading-surfaces only extend over a relatively small segment of acircle, it is apparent that every advantage ispresent for securing a number of distinct abrading contacts 6 3 upon the surface of the seed under treatment, and, further, that the duration of the abrading contacts will only be long enough to enable sufficient scouring action to take place to remove the lint from the surface of the seed presented to such action.

In considering the formation of abradingsurfaces it should also be remembered that the abrading action which takes place is due simply to the difference between the rate of rotation of the abrading-surfaces and that of the roll of seed. All the power necessary to cause the seed to assume a centrifugal movement and to cause the abrading-surfaces to rotate as rapidly as the roll of seed is lost for 221',he delinting operation, and only the energy expended in causing the abrading-surfaces to rotate more rapidly than the roll of ,seed is available therefor. This fact enters as a prominent factor in determining the character and relative efliciency of abrading-surfaces.

The arm type of cotton-seed delinters is especially adapted to expedite the formation of the roll of seed in the machine and the im- 0 parting thereto of the requisite centrifugal movement, and, further, offers the advantage of involving a minimum amount of frictional loss due from the compression which it is necessary to exert on the roll of seed in order 5 to secure a satisfactory delinting operation.

In spite of these advantages few or no 0011- structions have been devised for holding in proper position for effective action the sections of emery which constitute the revolv- 10o ing abrading-surfaces of this type of machine,

and difficulty has always been experienced in on the ends of the abrading-arms and to proi vide an improved form of abrading-block es pecially adapted for this type of construction,

and, second, to provide an improved device;

for effecting the removal from the machine of the lint scoured off the surfaceof the seed under treatment.

In accomplishing the first-stated object of my invention I form chambers or recesses in the ends of each of the abrading-arms and secure in the same the emery blocks which are to constitute the active abradi-ng -surface. The ends of the abrading-a rms may be bent into any shape desired, such as an upwardlycurved shape, which I herein illustrate and which has proven one of the best forms of abrading-surfaces for treating cottonseed, and the blocks can be held in position in the chambered ends of the arms either by the application of glue or cementor by the use of additional holding means, such as bolts or rivets. The blocks are not liable to wear or breakage, and they can be easily removed and replaced in case of accident. As'ingle block may be mad elarge enough to completely fill the hollow end of-a single arm, or 21.1111111- ber of blocks may be used with a single arm, this being a'detail of construction which is immaterial and may be varied as desired. v The upper or active surface of the abradingblocks maybe given anyform or configuration desired; but I prefer to round the lower portion thereofthat is tosay, the portion which is held in the hollow end of the abrading-v arms-and to form a groove at the point of to obtain a more effective grip thereon. I have also devised an improved construction for facilitating the removal of the lint,whic'h is scoured by the action of the machine from the surface of the seed under treatment, from the inclosure in which the abrading action takesplace.

'In an application for Letters Patent filed by me May 20, 1895, Serial No. 5i9,980, I have described a moving lint-removing device consisting of a series of rotating sawsstationed in the open mouth of an air-fiume, which is in free communication with the abradi11gsurfaces through an opening in thecasing there of, journaled with a portion of their peripheries projecting through said opening and operating to catch and remove the lintwhich is scoured from the surface of the seed. In said application I have stated that it is necessary for the satisfactory operation of this type of lint-removing devices that the aircurrent have free access to the abrading-surfaces over the entire length of the opening formed in the delinting-cylinder casing as it acts in connection with the saws to remove the lint.

I11 the machine which forms the subjectma'tter of the present application I use as a lint-removing device, instead of a series of saws, a cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed, as before, in the mouth of the airflume, which is in communication with the abrading-surfaces through an opening in the deflating-cylinder casing, and journaled so that a portion of its periphery extends through said opening and comes into close relation with the abrading-surfaces. The lint, as rapidly as it is scoured off the surface of the seed under treatment, is swept upon the periphery of the cylinder by the force of the air-current which sweeps through the perforations of the same, and is removed from the inclosures in which the 'delinting operation takes place by said cylinder as it completes its revolution. The lint removal thus effected is positive in its action and is very satisfactory. in this type of'lint-removalconstruction the opening formed in the delintingcylinder casing to permit the removal of lint usually extends the entire length of the machine, and I have found it necessary to provide means for preventing the spreading of the 'edgesof the opening and the consequent escape'of the seed. With this end in view-I form the lint removing or gathering cylinder in sections and brace the edges of the openingin'the casingby securing theretosupports, which pass between the sections of the lintremoving cylinder. These supports serve the further function of spacing-ribs to prevent the discharge of seed between the sections of the lint-removing cylinder. In the use of this form of lint-removing cylinder I secure the further advantage of automatically freeing the same from the dirt which gathers in the interior. This-dirtof itself grayitates to the ends of thesections of the cylinder and is there subjectedto the action of the air-current existingin the lint-discharge ilume. The surface of the lint-removing cylinder is thus kept free from the accumulation of dirt and is at all times in'condition foreffective action. In this type of lint-removingdevice it is advantageous to have as large a portion as possible of the surface of the lint-removing cylinder in communication with the abradingsurfaces through the opening in the casing therefor. With the ordinary construction of casing, howeven'only a small portion of the peripheryof the lint-removing cylinder can proj ectthrou gh the openin g in the casin g without conflicting with the movement of the revolving abrading-surfaoes. To increase the amount of available active lint-removing surface,I formthe upper portion of the casing for the abradin g-surfaceseccentrically to the line of motion of the rotating arms, and form the opening in the casing through which the lintremoving action takes place at the, topof the casing, so: that at. thispoint thelint-nernotring; cyhnder can be jonrnaleetwithiamnoh Largerportion of its. periphery extending into the inclosure in which the deiinting operation takesplace than would otherwise be the case-..

The lin -removing action is thus facilitated and a smoother and. more uniform operation of the machine obtained;

My invention is. fnllyrepresented in the: drawings which accompany" and; form a pant: of thisa piication, in which the. same refiet-- ence letters and numerals refer to. the same or corresponding parts. and. in, which Fi ure l is a, vertical, section: 0t. my: mile chine, showing-the relation the various parts bear to each other, the arms which hoidthe abrading-sections being shown as sec-need to a hollow cylinder supported; nponthe centrat shaft. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section otthe. machine, showing especially thefornrot; lintremONiII-g cylinder, another town oft snpport for the abrading-arms being. represented. Fig. 3- is adetail view'ofone of theat-inns:bear.- ingthe abradingeblocks, the; blocks them selvesbeing: shown abovethe recessectpor: tion of. the arm, Fig, 4:. is a. crossrsection; ot. an abrading-block and the arm bearing, the

same.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the machineframe. Thisfjramefomnsasupport for the casing 13;, whiohisprovided for the abrading sulffacesahriwhichformstheine10& ure within-which theentiredelintingaction of the machine takesiplace and also haslbearings therein. for themaihpowershaftsof; the.

while shaftv F, upon-which the seed feeding:

or conveying device is monnted isrotatedby a sprocket connection 2 with the end? ofithe shaft Gv'oppositeto that towhichpoWen-is-imparted.

In the construetiOnandioperationofcottone seed delinters itis.necessaryto,providemeans.

for, first, feeding the; seed; into. themaehine uniformly and; conveying the seed fronizthej inlet to the discharge-opening; regularly. atia rate of speed dependent upon. therapidity of; the delinting operation; seconchfor scouring:

or abrading the surface of the seed treatment in, ordertoremovetherefiom the lintwhich adheresthereto and which itisthe purpose of the operation. toseparate fromithe seed, and,v third, to removethe lint from: the

inclosure in. which the delinting operation:

takes place as rapidly as. it is scoured oft the sunface otthe: seed under treatment.

In theoonsideration of my present machine the parts: thereof will be. deseribed in the orderindicateth and then the operation of themachine, as; a, wholewill be considered;

Ii Feeding.. and (jo'lwey-ing. of the Seed.

casing: for the abnadinges-nrfaces. and is perforated to permit free passage of air upward into: the; 11130105111526 in which the, abrading action takes placev through an, opening; formed thefieedropenine I.- isthltSapositivelY conveyed through the samegands the conditions-are such thaitiaininifiorm rateottnavetis. given thereto.v

' Sneh seed: is: constantlycaught up by th i abrading-rsunfaeesiand is subjected again'and again to the abradiing: action taking; place. within: thexcasi ng; sothat asi'it isfinally dis ch'alzgedi thnongh thevaived. discharge.-open.--

ing it is entinelytreed: from. and in manketables condition. The perforations in. the oasingr'Js serve to permit the passage of currents: of any. which act; to cool the seed lrnderwtneatment, to; assist in the. separation therefrom; of. the: fine lint whiohi, even after 7 it is scoured from the; sunfaceot the. seed,

,might otherwise! tend to; cling: to'the same,

- openingwhile thev uncleanedi seed,,by reasonv of, itslighter specific gravity-,; remains onthe surface.- of they seed within the casing; and is continuallycaught up..'by the: rotating abradingssurfiaeesanchresubjected to, the abrading actions.

Hi. The AZ i rad'ing-Smfaces.

Theabradingesnrfaeesofi this machine con- SiStiOfthB sections. of'abrading-materialE, se- OuEQdibQthB-BIKIS Qfith'e armszD',.and.the abradingssnnfaeed .lining'ofr' the. casing- These arms may be-secnned toahollow cylinder-G, which is, mounted: upon, the central shaft and rotates-thenewith, asrshown in. Fig... 1, or; they may be formed. as: arms: of spidershavmg; a;

common hub, as shown in Fig. 2, or any other suitableconstruction may be used for securing them in position in the machine. The lining of the casing may be of any ordinary construction and may have either a smooth or roughened exterior, in accordance with the desire of the operator. The method of holdin g in place the abrading-blocks N, which constitute the abrading-sections E, and the form of said blocks are, however, novel and demand detailed description.

The abrading-blocks N are formed with a rounded upper surface or and an undercut rounded lower portion 71, a groove 71 being formed at the point of meeting of the upper and lower portions of the block. This construction is especially adapted to enable the blocks to be held firmly in place in the chambered or recessed ends of the arms D. The ends of the arms D are bent into the form shown in the drawings, so that they present an upwardly-rising curved portion. They are hollowed out to aiford a recess or chamber in which the abrading-blocks may be held. The arms D are preferably made of pipe, and the section of the pipe cut therefrom to form the opening which permits the entrance of the abrading-blocks is cut above the center of the pipe, so that the edges of the opening formed curve inwardly in a posit-ion to enter the grooves formed in the abrading-blocks, and thus to constitute an active retaining means. At their inner ends the openings formed in the ends of the arms gradually narrow in width, and for this portion of the groove the section of abrading material used is formed with special reference thereto, as shown in Fig. 3. The blocks may be held in position in the ends of the arms by means of glue or cement but I preferably use additional holding means, such as the rivet a shown in the drawings. The blocks are not liable to excessive wear and are not readily broken; but in case they are broken they can be taken out and replaced with a minimum amount of trouble. The blocks may be made of such a size that a single block will fill the recess formed in the ends of each of the arms D, or a number of blocks, as shown, may be used for each arm.

To facilitate the repair of the machine, I have supported the arms Din such manner as to permit their ready removal, either holding them by means of thumb-screws in sockets formed on a hollow cylinder mounted upon the central shaft or forming each cylindrical series of arms with a common hub, as shown in Fig. 2. In the former construction, should one of the blocks in one of the arms become broken the entire arm can be readily removed and a new arm put in position. By undercutting the lower portion of the abrading-block an overhanging ledge is formed which prevents any portion of the abrading-arms coming in sufliciently close contact with the seed under treatment to damage the same. The entire abradin g-surface is that formed by the upper surface of the abrading-blocks, and this may be made smooth or roughened, in accordance with the finish given to said blocks or the form of the upper surface chosen.

The lower half of the casing for the rotating abrading-surface is concentric with the movement of the same, the distance between the inner surface of the casing and the ends of the arms being about five-eighths of an inch, that having been found a satisfactory distance for delinting purposes. The upper half of the casing for the abrading-surfaces is, however, eccentric to theline of movement of the abrading-surfaces, in that the distance between the end of the abrading-arms and the inner surface of the casing gradually increases until the top of the casing is reached. The reason for so forming the casing will be apparent when the lint-removing action is considered. The effect upon the seed under treatment is to diminish at the upper portion of the casing the density of the roll which the seed forms in the machine, and of course to decrease the efficiency of the delinting operation at this pointa disadvantage which is, however, far more than counterbalanced by the gain in efficiency of the lint-removing action.

111. The Lint-Removal Device.

To remove the lint from the abrading-surfaces as soon as it is separated from the seed by the action of the machine, Iform in the center of the upper portion of the casing an opening P, which extends longitudinally of the casin g, and support, in connection with this opening, the open end of the air-flume Q, in which an outward current of air is caused to exist by an exhaust-fan, (not shown), and in which is journaled the lint-removing cylinder II. By reason of the eccentric formation of the casing B the cylinder H is enabled to be journaled with a considerable portion of its periphery projecting into the inclosure in which the delinting operation takes place without interfering with the revolution of the abrading-arms. The active lint-removing surface is thus markedly increased, and the lint is removed from the abrading-surfaces rapidly and efficiently. The lint-removing cylinder H may be formed either of wire mesh or of perforate iron.

It is essential to the successful operation of the lint-removing action that air have free access to the abrading-surfaces, and as the periphery of the cylinder works through the opening in the casing so as to come into intimate relation with the abrading-surfaces, some perforated formation is necessary. The draft of the air-current, which draws its supply through the perforations in the casing J, causes the lint which is separated from the seed to be swept against the surface of the lint-removing cylinder and to be removed as the cylinder completes its revolution from the inclosure in which the delinting operation takes place. The lint is dofied from the cylinder by the doffing-brushes S and is drawn outward into the discharge-fiume.

The action of the doffing-brushes is made possible by the upward air-current which exists in the lint-discharge flume, and takes place in spite of the fact that the doffingbrushes are stationary.

On account of the length of the longitudinal opening formed in the casing, it is essential that some means be used to prevent the opening spreading and permitting escape of seed at this point. Should such spreading take place, the efficiency of the machine would be very much decreased by the resultant loss of product. WVith a view to preventing the spreading of the sides of this opening, I form the lint-removing cylinder in sections, as shown in Fig. 2, and between the adjacent ends of the sections of the cylinder I pass rods or braces T, which are attached to the two sides of the longitudinal opening in the casing, and which are Wide enough to prevent the escape of seed at these points.

The construction of lint-removing cylinder which Ihave made use of is adapted to free the interior of the cylinder from the fine dirt which gathers therein in the action of the machine, as such dirt will naturally gravitate toward the openings at the ends of these various sections and will be drawn outward by the aircurrent. The gathering -cylinder itself is made of a series of hubs h, which point inward in pairs, over which are slipped the wire mesh or perforated iron cylinders to be used.

To further assist in the prevention of loss of stock through theopening in the top of the casing B through which the lint-removing cylinder operates, I provide said lint-removing cylinder on one side thereof with an adjustable guard-plate U, which is journaled in the air-fiume Q, upon a revoluble pin q and eX- tends longitudinally of the lint-removing cylinder. This guard-plate extends downward into the inclosure in which the delinting operation takes place and is provided with a V- shaped end a, which always effects a complete closure of the opening into the air-fiume. Upon the pin (1 is rigidly mounted the outwardly-extending lever-arm V, whose upper surface is notched to permit adjustment thereon of the weight W. Means are thus provided for regulating the pressure with which the guard-plate bears against the surface of the lint-removing cylinder- If desired, a spring X may be used in addition to the means shown, or the spring construction may be relied upon entirely to effect the desired control of the guard-plate.

IV. Operation of the Machine.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Seed is fed into the machine through the feedspout I and is fed through the machine by the spiral conveyer K. It is caught up again and again by the abrading-arms and subj ected to the scouring action of the abradingsurfaces. "When finally discharged through the discharge-opening M in quantities regulated by its condition, the seed is entirely cleansed and freed from lint. The form of abrading-surfaces is such as to cause the roll of seed to assume the desired centrifugal movement with a minimum expenditure of power and to give the seed treated a large number of distinct abrading contacts, while avoiding undue frictional loss by reason of compression exerted upon the roll of seed. As rapidly as the lint is scoured from the surface of the seed under treatment, it is stripped against the surface of the lint-removing cylinder H and drawn out of the inclosure in which the delinting operation takes place, it

being doffed from said cylinder by the doffing-brush S and swept into the air-flume Q. The guard-plate WV, by reason of its constant pressure against the sides of the lint-removing cylinder, prevents escape of stock, but does not hinder the removal of lint. The aircurrent existing in the interior of the casing not only assists in the rapid removal of the lint as rapidly as it is scoured off the surface of the seed under treatment, but also assists in the prevention of the clogging of the rotating abrading-surfaces. The greater portion of the dirt which is always present with cotton-seed as it is subjected to the delinting operation escapes through the perforations in the casing.

I do not herein claim, broadly, a moving lintremoving device formed so as to permit free access of air to the abrading-surfaces and stationed in the open mouth of an air-fiume which is in free communication with the abrading-surfaces through an opening in the casing therefor, as this forms the subject-matter of a separate application, filed by me May 20, 1895, Serial No. 549,980.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a suitable casing, and a shaft extending through the same, of a series of tubular arms mounted on said shaft, said arms having their outer ends bent and cut away on their upper sides above the center line of the tubular arms, and a series of sections of abrading material adapted to be held in the cut away portions of said arms, substantially as described.

2. In acotton seed delinter, the combination with a suitable casing, and a shaft extending through the same, of a series of tubular arms mounted on said shaft, said arms having their outer ends bent, and cut away on their upper sides so as to form openings which become narrower as the inner ends of the cut away portions are reached, and a series of sections of abrading material adapted to be held in the cut away portions of saidarms, substantially as described.

3. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a suitable casing, and a shaft extending through the same, of a series of tubular arms mounted on said shaft, said arms having their outer ends bent and cut away 011 their upper sides above the center line of the same, the openings formed becoming narrower as the inner ends of said cut away portions are reached, and a series of sections of abrading material adapted to be held in the cut away portions of said arms, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination with a casing having an opening therein, and means for causing the seed under treatment to assume a centrifugal movement within the casing, of an air flume in communication with said opening, and a cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed in said air fiume and so journaled that its periphery works through the opening in the casing, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for treating cotton seed, the combination with a casing having an opening therein, and a revolving abrading surface operating in the same, of an air flume in communication with said opening, and a cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed in said air fiume and so journaled that its periphery works through the opening in the casing, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a casing therefor having an opening therein, of an air flume in communication with said opening, and a cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed in said air fiume, and so journaled that its periphery works through the opening in the casing, substantially as described.

7. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a revolving abrading surface, and a casing therefor having an opening therein, of an air flume in communication with said opening, a sectional cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed in said air fiume, and working through the opening in the casing to remove the lint from the abrading surfaces, and means for preventing the dischar e of seed into the air fiume through the openings between the sections of the cylinder, substantially as described. I

8. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a revolving abrading surface, and a casing therefor having a longitudinal opening formed therein, of an air fiume in communication with said opening, a sectional cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed in said air iiume, and working through the opening in the casing to remove the lint from the abrading surfaces, and supports, extending between the edges of thelongitudinal opening in the casing, and passing between the sections of the sectional cylinder, substantially described.

9. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a casing having an opening therein, and a revolving abrading surface operating in said casing, of an air flume in communication with said opening, a cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed in said air flume, and Working through the opening in the casing to remove the lint from the abrading surfaces, and a doffmg brush for rem ovin the lint from said cylinder, substantially as described.

10. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a casing, and revolving abrading surfaces journaled eceentrieally within the casing, of an opening in the casin g at that portion thereof at which the revolving abrading surfaces move farthest from its inner surface, and a moving lint removing device, journaled with a portion of its peripheryprojecting through the opening in the casing, substantially as described.

11. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a shaft, and a series of revolving abrading surfaces mounted thereupon, of a casing therefor whose upper surface is eceentric to the line of motion of the abrading sun faces, an openin gin said upper portion of the casing, and a moving lint removing device j ournaled with a portion of its periphery pro- 3' ectin g through the opening in the casin g, substantially as described.

12. In a cotton seed delinter, the co1nbina tion with a shaft, and a series of revolving abrading surfaces mounted thereupon, of a casing therefor Whose upper surface is co centric to the line of motion of the abrading surfaces, an opening in the upper portion of said casing, an air flume in communication with said opening, and a cylinder having a perforate periphery journaled in said air fiume with a portion of its periphery projecting through the opening in the casing, sub stantially as described.

13. In a cotton seed delinter, the combina= tion with revolving abrading surfaces, and a casing therefor having an opening therein, of a lint removing cylinder journaled with a portion of its periphery projecting through the opening in the casing, a pivoted guard plate, and means for causing said guard plate to bear against the periphery of said cylinder, substantially as described.

14. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with revolving abrading surfaces, and a casing therefor having an opening therein, of a lint removing cylinder j ournaled with a portion of its periphery projecting through the opening in the casing, a revoluble rod extending lengthwise of the cylinder, a guard plate mounted thereon, a lever arm rigidly attached to said rod, and an adjustable weight held upon said rod for causing said guard plate to bear against the periphery of said cylinder, substantially as described,

15. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with revolving abrading surfaces, and a casing therefor having an opening therein, of a lint removing cylinder journaled with a portion of its periphery projecting through the opening in the casing, a pivoted guard plate having a V-shaped end, and means for causing said. guard plate to bear against the periphery of said cylinder, substantially as described.

16. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with revolving abrading surfaces, and a casing therefor having an opening therein, of an air fiume in communication with said opening, a cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed in said air flume, and journaled with a portion of its periphery projecting through the opening in the casing, a pivoted guard plate, and means for causing said guard plate to bear against the periphery of said cylinder, substantially as described.

17. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with revolving abrading surfaces, and a casing therefor having an opening therein, of an air flume in communication with said opening, a cylinder having a perforate periphery stationed in said air flume, and j ournaled with a portion of its periphery projecting through the opening in the casing, a pivoted guard plate stationed within the air fiume, and extending downward within the casing, said guard plate being provided with a V-shaped bend to prevent escape of seed between the edge of the opening in the casing and the periphery of the lint removing cylinder, and means for causing said guard plate to bear against the periphery of said cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES J. FAULKNER. \Vitnesses:

L. M. BELsER, HUGH B. OULLEN. 

